Alpine Skiing
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ALPINE SKIING NEWS
By Gord Davidson
Kasper Wooley, Whistler, gold medal winner, slalom
After the one run slalom there was some question about whether he had successfully negotiated all the gates, thus facing disqualification. However, video analysis indicated that he was not disqualified.
When asked how his race went he said, "It went well... a few gates down I got messed up a bit. Smooth sailing from there. I had a gate straddle- I was not sure if I made it or not."
When asked what he liked most about the Winter Games, he said "skiing the course,racing. There were some pretty crazy moments in our room too...it was kind of all over the place"
When asked about Silver Star, he said that he really liked the mountain.
Wooley was asked what his goal in ski racing was. "I want to race the World Cup, win an Olympic gold medal, and be the world champion."
Kasper's father was on the national alpine team. When asked if his father gives him tips before the race he said, "Not really. My two coaches from Whistler are really good, but he coached me a lot when I was younger."
Gavin Donald, Vernon racer, disqualified
When asked about his experience of the Winter Games, Donald said, "It has been an amazing experience. Meeting new people,having new experiences is a great thing, It is especially nice that it is here in Vernon and being able to go to this one. When asked about his favourite part of the Games, Donald said, "Just the experience, racing new competitors, making new friends, racers from other regions."
By Rob Phare
Predictable Okanagan champagne powder and sunshine greeted the Alpine male Slalom race on Sunday morning. With new snow overnight of 6 cm, clear skies and a temperature of -14.5c the course was setup soft, fast, and tight.
Twelve year old Finn Iles of Whistler had this comment after his Bronze Medal run. "I thought I was pretty well prepared, I was just a bit cold in the start gate but the run went pretty well. I made a few mistakes coming down, but you know. The course was a bit soft and was really 'turny'. It was really tight at the transition at the bottom. I thought I raced it really well."
1. Kasper Whoolley, Squamish; 37.64
2. Jesse Howden, Cultus Lake; 37.89
3. Finn Iles, Whistler; 37.94
Frances MacDonald of North Vancouver won the the Gold medal in the female slalom.
The 13-year-old talked about how the course was set up, and how her run went. "The course was really tight and the snow was soft but it was also really easy to get a grip, and once I got into a rhythm I got right into it."
When asked if she listened to any music prior to the race she replied, "I didn't have any time. I got there and they said 'Five minutes to start' and I thought Oh my gosh!" Frances then offered her thoughts on the key take-away from the Games. "I had no regrets" she said with a wide grin.
1. Frances MacDonald, North Vancouver; 37.85
2. Ella Renzoni, West Vancouver; 38.72
3. Michah Morris, Whister; 38.83
National Team member Kelsey Serwa Visits BC Winter Games
While in the midst of a painful knee injury rehabilitation, Kelsey Serwa has made the time to visit the 2012 BC Winter Games including the considerable effort to get to the top of the Skier Cross Race course at Silver Star on Saturday morning.
Since 2009, Serwa has earned 13 World Cup podium finishes, and the prestigious titles of World Champion, X-Games gold medalist, Olympian, National Champion, and two-time South American Champion. Still eager for improvement Serwa has her sights set on becoming the overall World Cup champion, reigning World Champion, and an Olympic gold medalist in the years to come.
I caught up with her at the start gate as she encouraged the young racers on, and I asked her for her thoughts on the new Skier Cross format for junior racers in BC.
"I think it's awesome. We want to get as many kids as possible out trying Skier Cross as possible. This is a perfect way to start out, one at a time down the track. Silver Star has built an awesome course here and I'm really excited to see how it goes."
I then asked her about her recovery and return to World Cup competition. "I'll be ready by next year for sure for the start of the next season. So right now I'm just recovering and hangin' out and having a good time."
Serwa,a Kelowna native, awarded all medals to the Skier Cross winners on Saturday afternoon at the Silver Star Village centre...without the aid of her crutch.
Eminem Helps In Skier Cross Debut
By Rob Phare
The inaugural BC Winter Games' female Skier Cross enjoyed better weather conditions than the previous day's fog and freezing rain albeit with another dump of fresh powder. This delayed the start time while course officials, volunteer course workers and coaches moved loose snow and further packed the turns. Visibility was good by the time the ladies skied the first of two runs with the best time being counted.
The results were:
1. Frances MacDonald, North Vancouver; 46.6
2. Ella Renzoni, West Vancouver; 47.29
3. Brooke Lukinuk, Kelowna; 48.80
When asked what she did before the race which contributed to her gold medal finish, Frances MacDonald of North Vancouver replied "I listened to one of my favourite songs, 'Lose Yourself' by Eminem and I watched a couple of videos of Lindsay Vonnin her start and I did what she did and it got me pumped up and all excited." When asked if she like the new discipline she replied "I love it, awesome!"
The inaugural BC Winter Games' male Skier Cross offered both competitors and spectators a new format for racing with banked turns (berms) and drops on the same slope which will be set for slalom.
Fresh snow concerned race officials and after the first Ladies Forerunner crashed, the course was closed. Course officials, volunteer course workers and coaches moved loose snow and further packed the turns to make the course safer. In spite of these efforts the Kootenay Team coach withdrew his team from the race and was not available for comment. Visibility had improved by the time the men skied the first of two runs with the best time being counted.
When asked what he felt helped to ensure his Gold Medal win, Finn Iles of Whistler replied "I thought that the upper part of the course was definitely the best because I felt really smooth in the parts that you really needed to get good flow. And I felt that I prepared really well today." When asked if he liked Skier Cross he exclaimed "I love it!"
1. Finn Iles, Whistler; 43.97
2. Kasper Whoolley, Squamish; 44.59
3. Kyle Alexander, North Vancouver; 44.92
A conversation with Gail Johnson at the base of the Men's GS on Friday revealed some hidden benefits which have accrued to her son Evan Monroe from Kamloops, skiing out of Sun Peaks. When I asked Gail what Evan has learned from ski racing she replied with the following:
"He has learned how to manage himself under stress - how to keep a positive outlook in conditions when he's been unable to control the outcome. And I have to say that it's still an on-going journey, he still hasn't mastered that completely but an on-going journey. And one of the biggest things I've noticed is that he's managed to learn how to be organized. It's fantastic. Great life lessons. Really great!"
Evan placed 11th in Saturday's Skier Cross race.
Update from Silver Star Mountain
Mother nature is cooperating so far today with the skiing events at Silver Star Mountain. The visibility has improved significantly with cooler temperatures.
Norm Kruetz, the director of snow sports for Silver Star said, “We got tougher conditions today but the course workers are doing a great job clearing the new snow away. It looks like it’s shaping up to be a good race today.”Garry Van Soest, the BC Games Director of Registration & Results commented, “I’m here today to do a little shovelling but more importantly to watch my daughter 
Katrina Van Soest compete. She’s worked very hard to get here today starting with bib #9. She got sucked a little wide and got hooked up in the deeper snow and unfortunately DNF’d. That’s ski racing.”
Rob Boyd, the former National Team Member, was at the hill today. The Vernon native said, “I’m excited to be back at Silver Star, doing a little coaching, some refereeing and being a spectator. It’s great to watch all these up and comers from BC challenging this course in these conditions. I’d give the edge to our coastal kids who are used to this type of weather. It always feels good to be back in Vernon and Silver Star.
Giant Slalom
By Rob Phare
The BC Winter Games men's Giant Slalom was held at on a Silver Star course Friday that featured less than ideal visibility. Participants describe the conditions as challenging with ice rain freezing on goggles and fog causing visibility issues. The men's combined results for the two runs were 1. Kasper Woolley, Squamish; 1:40.62 2. Zane Torres, Kelowna; 1:43.19 3. Finn Iles, Whister; 1:43.65 Attached Photo of Shelley and Rod Torres of Kelowna, proud parents of Silver Medal winner Zane Torres. Taken at the finish line following the second run this afternoon.
Challenging conditions for skiing
By Rob Phare
The first runs of the 2012 BC Winter Games Mens' and Ladies' Giant Slalom have taken place at Silver Star Resort.
Course conditions were challenging with ice rain freezing on goggles and fog causing visibility issues.
The first place finisher, Katie Fleckenstein of West Vancouver, commented that although it was hard to see due to snow, the course was fast and smooth with some deep snow pockets to the side of the run.
Anna Gosney of North Vancouver was second, with Frances MacDonald of North Vancouver third and Brooke Lukinuk of Kelowna fourth.
The Mens' first run results had Kasper Woolley of Squamish in first, Zane Torres of Kelowna second, and Ryan Finley of Calgary in third.
